Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual

“The depth is impressive….Recommended. Upper-level undergraduates through professionals/practitioners.”

—Choice Reviews


“This edition is both timely and crucial to the continued advancement of the field….This book takes into account the whole person and does not get weighed down by the mere presence or absence of symptoms. It goes beyond the subjective nature of the disorder and truly makes clinicians think. Given the present state of the field, this book truly provides a missing piece of the therapeutic puzzle….No matter what your theoretical framework, this book and its ideas will work for you. Truly a mind-opening experience, and one which makes clinicians stop and think about their current therapeutic orientation. A must read for open-minded clinicians willing to go beyond the confines of the current diagnostic models. *****!”

—Doody's Review Service


“PDM finally has given clinicians—as well as researchers and theorists—an alternative to DSM, which is largely based on symptom counting. As the editors state, PDM provides a 'taxonomy of people' rather than a 'taxonomy of disorders.' While the first edition was a monumental achievement, the second edition is even more impressive. It is an invaluable resource not only for diagnostic purposes, but also for teaching and research. I recommend this book to anyone—psychologist, psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, social worker, or educator—interested in an ecologically valid way of assessing personality and mental functioning.”

—Morris N. Eagle, PhD, ABPP, Distinguished Educator-in-Residence, School of Graduate Psychology, California Lutheran University


“People are more than their diagnoses. Diagnostic formulations rooted in the diversity and humanity of the people we aim to help and, at the same time, rooted in carefully evaluated empirical evidence represent the real gold standard in our field. This synthesis is precisely what PDM-2 aims for. The book will be of value both to practicing clinicians and to those teaching the next generation to think in ways that combine rigor with empathy for the client's experience.”

—Paul L. Wachtel, PhD, Distinguished Professor, Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, City College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York


“It is quite difficult to achieve agreement on psychiatric diagnosis, and almost impossible to achieve agreement on psychodynamic concepts. The most interesting aspects of human nature are inherently the very hardest to agree upon, because they are also the most idiosyncratic, complicated, buried, and inferential. This heroically ambitious book is a startlingly successful synthesis of the confusing babel of different psychoanalytic tongues. It will improve the daily practice of psychodynamic clinicians, enliven teaching in the field, and contribute to the infant field of psychodynamic research. A labor of love and erudition.”

—Allen Frances, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Emeritus), Duke University


“A masterful work that fills a gap in the clinical literature. This 21st-century psychodynamic manual not only covers diagnostic formulations, but also presents validated research tools that can be used in assessment of patients. The editors have recruited leaders in the field from across the globe to contribute to this major, far-reaching resource. PDM-2 takes a lifespan approach, covering infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. Crucially, it takes seriously the need to integrate research and practice, with clear comparisons between the PDM-2 and DSM and ICD diagnostic systems. The inclusion of extensive case material helps the editors achieve their goal of addressing the complexities rather than just the symptoms of patients.”

—Miriam Steele, PhD, Department of Psychology, The New School for Social Research